Negotiations were held in Skopje on a Draft Protocol on Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia on the fight against Trafficking in Human Beings

Between 26th-28th June 2019 in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, negotiations took place between the Delegations of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Northern Macedonia to coordinate the text of the Draft of the Protocol on Cooperation in the Field of combating trafficking in human beings between the Governments of both countries.

The Bulgarian delegation was led by Prof. Nikolay Prodanov, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Chairman of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. In the negotiating team on behalf of the Republic of Bulgaria the following representatives participated: Mrs. Kamelia Dimitrova, secretary of the NCCTHB, Dr. Eleonora Lilova, chairman of the State Agency for Child Protection, representatives of the Cabinet of the Deputy Minister and Chairman of the NCCTHB Krassimir Karakachanov, representatives of the NCCTHB Administration, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Ministry of Justice, the State Agency for Child Protection, the Commission for Personal Data Protection and the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Skopje. On behalf of the Republic of North Macedonia, the delegation was led by Ms Magdalena Nestorovska, Anti-Traffic Coordinator and State Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Republic of North Macedonia. Representatives of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the OSCE Mission in Skopje took part.

The Protocol provides for cooperation on the support and protection of victims of trafficking in human beings, the exchange of experience between the competent institutions of the two countries, the conduct of common information and awareness campaigns on trafficking prevention, trainings and coordinated actions on referral, support and care for victims of trafficking.

The negotiations have passed in a constructive atmosphere and in a spirit of full understanding between the two delegations and full respect for the views expressed on the content of the Protocol under discussion.

During the negotiations, the draft text was agreed and the Protocol is due to be signed at the end of July this year.